Fan theories unravel the mystery behind Homelander’s gray hair in The Boys season 4.

As we come across the dark and twisted season 4 of Eric Kripke’s Amazon Prime show The Boys, audiences witness the peculiar appearance of Homelander’s gray hair. Even amid the chaos of superpowered antics, the constant aging of Antony Starr’s character became a hard-to-miss element in the show, especially since he began collecting his gray hairs.

Antony Starr as Homelander in Season Four of The Boys | Amazon Prime Video

Quickly, fans of The Boys began looking for clues to figure out the reason behind Homelander’s gray hair. Considering how Antony Starr’s character was freaking out in the show due to this very aging, netizens offered a possible theory claiming that this seemingly innocuous trait could be because of Vought’s experiments on Homelander as a kid, and because of the true nature of Compound V.

Fan Theory Blames Vought’s Sinister Experiments for Homelander’s Gray Hairs

Right after we delved into Eric Kripke‘s The Boys season 4, we immediately spotted the obvious aging of Antony Starr’s Homelander. Now, although Vought marketed a youthful image of superheroes, considering the actors are aging with each season, it was quite obvious for us to notice a significant aging process in the characters. But it seems Homelander is the only one who’s aging rather rapidly than others.

Considering how this could mean that The Boys is hinting at Homelander possibly getting older and weaker, fans try to figure out the reason behind the fan-favorite character’s aging anomaly. Thereafter, @ComicsUnlocked came up with a possible explanation for Homelander’s gray hairs, hinting at the sinister experiments done to him at Vought labs, during his childhood years.

Baby Homelander in The Boys season 1 episode 6 | Amazon Prime Video

The Boys have often suggested how Vought’s experimentation with Compound V went beyond mere enhancement of physical abilities. Therefore, considering this, fan theories explained that during Homelander’s formative years, as Vought was aiming to turn him into the ultimate superhero, they subjected him to procedures aimed at enhancing his powers but at the cost of stripping away the anti-aging properties of Compound V.

Antony Starr’s character noticing his gray hair in The Boys season 4 | Amazon Prime Video

Perhaps, Vought inadvertently removed the anti-aging properties of Compound V during Homelander’s childhood experiments, as a fail-safe method, in case Antony Starr’s character ever went rogue. Realizing that what they were doing at the lab was ethically and morally wrong, Vought might have manipulated their Compound V. Well, if this theory stands true, then Homelander’s aging becomes a haunting symbol of Vought’s manipulation and the unintended consequences of their quest for power.

Netizens Believe Homelander’s Compound V Abuse is Making Him Age Quicker 

Meanwhile, after concluding Homelander’s gray hairs with their possible theory, the scooper account offered another theory suggesting why Antony Starr‘s character is aging rather rapidly. Hinting at how the superheroes aren’t supposed to age, and Homelander still surprisingly spotted gray hairs, @ComicsUnlocked stated that the character’s Compound V abuse could be causing him to age rapidly.

Much like A Train’s Compound V overdose, fan theory posits that maybe Homelander is also abusing himself with the substance to reverse his aging, but it’s instead leading him to have more gray hairs. The scooper account validated their explanation by hinting at the character’s unorganized cabinet full of Compound V, wherein half of the substance is missing.

Antony Starr as Homelander in Eric Kripki’s The Boys | Amazon Prime Video

While the true origin of Homelander’s gray hair remains shrouded in speculation, it seems that Antony Starr’s character’s gray hair has become more than just a stylistic choice. Although the theory linking it to Vought’s manipulation of Compound V offers a compelling narrative, it surely challenges our perception of superheroes as infallible icons.

The Boys is available on Prime Video.